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LANCASTER, Ohio — The Fairfield County Meals on Wheels board of trustees is investigating the
nonprofit organization’s operations after firing the executive director.

The board fired Phyllis R. Saylor, 68, on Oct. 1 after learning from the county commissioners
that she had paid her son Randall J. Saylor $129,076 last year for computer and
software-installation work for the organization.

The board also placed Ritta M. Seitz, the organization’s assistant director, who lives with the
Saylors, on leave, the commissioners said. Seitz, 45, and Randall Saylor, 42, are in a
relationship, Commissioner Steve Davis said.

This comes as the county commissioners are asking voters on Nov. 5 to renew a five-year,
0.5-mill levy to support Meals on Wheels. The county has a contract with the organization to
provide hot meals and services.

“The board is continuing to investigate and go in the direction we need to go,” said Raina
Cornell, a Lancaster lawyer who serves on the 15-member board of trustees.

“We’re looking at everything,” she said. “I can assure the citizens we are looking into things
and handling things and taking the steps we need to take to provide services to the citizens of
Fairfield County.”

Cornell would not say why Seitz is on leave or if she is still being paid. She said she did not
know what Phyllis Saylor was paid.

The organization reported on its Internal Revenue Service Form 990 that Phyllis Saylor was paid
$80,420 in 2011, the most-recent year available. It also said that Randall Saylor received $105,234
that year, in addition to his 2012 contract.

Carri Brown, the county commissioners’ executive director, noticed the payment to Randall Saylor
while she was reviewing the group’s financial statement from last year as the commissioners
prepared to sign a new contract with Meals on Wheels after the levy-renewal vote.

Brown wrote Phyllis Saylor in a letter copied to the board that she could not, by law, hire her
son.

Commissioner Dave Levacy said he hopes the events will not hurt the levy vote.

“The community realizes how important Meals on Wheels is,” he said.

The levy would generate about $1.6 million annually and cost residential property owners about
$15 per $100,000 of valuation, according to the county auditor.

The levy funds most of the organization’s $1.7 million annual budget. It currently provides
nearly 700 county residents ages 60 and older with hot meals at their homes or at group sites.

The group also provides other services to older people, including minor home repair, nutrition
classes and help with chores.